Houzz Tour: A Modern Hamptons House Goes for Breezy Tranquillity
With airy rooms, a beachy palette and a pool steps away, this vacation home has summertime relaxation covered
Mary Jo Bowling
May 25, 2014
Houzz Contributor; writer, reader, serial remodeler.
As a principal at architecture firm Austin Patterson Disston, Stuart Disston has built many new houses for his clients, and he has done extensive renovations on his own home. But he hadn’t built one from scratch for himself until he created this vacation retreat in the Hamptons on Long Island, New York.
The experience made him a more empathetic architect. “It put me in my clients’ shoes and helped me appreciate their anxiety over the cost and details,” he says. Now that construction is over, the house is purely a source of relaxation for the architect and his family.
The experience made him a more empathetic architect. “It put me in my clients’ shoes and helped me appreciate their anxiety over the cost and details,” he says. Now that construction is over, the house is purely a source of relaxation for the architect and his family.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Stuart Disston
Location: Long Island, New York
Size: 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms
The L-shaped house hugs a pool. “I wanted to be able to step out of the house and jump into the pool,” Disston says. Floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors that stack make it possible; when they are open, it’s as if the walls have rolled away to make the living room and kitchen a poolside cabana.
On the left the second-story structure is a deck behind a screen of cedar slats. The bedrooms are on the right of this photo, behind the windows.
Who lives here: Stuart Disston
Location: Long Island, New York
Size: 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms
The L-shaped house hugs a pool. “I wanted to be able to step out of the house and jump into the pool,” Disston says. Floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors that stack make it possible; when they are open, it’s as if the walls have rolled away to make the living room and kitchen a poolside cabana.
On the left the second-story structure is a deck behind a screen of cedar slats. The bedrooms are on the right of this photo, behind the windows.
“The slats provide a level of privacy from the street,” Disston says. Two large openings, picture windows of sorts, allow people on the deck to see outside. “The deck is really more like a private outdoor room,” he describes.
Inside, the architect’s photography — seen hanging at the back of the living room — provided the blue and white color scheme for the rooms.
“Obviously, there is water nearby, so that was inspiration for the blue as well,” Disston says. “And since this is primarily a summer house, blue and white fit.”
Rug, pillows, chairs: Custom Cool
“Obviously, there is water nearby, so that was inspiration for the blue as well,” Disston says. “And since this is primarily a summer house, blue and white fit.”
Rug, pillows, chairs: Custom Cool
The watery hues carry into the kitchen. What appear to be vertical natural-wood-finish drawers at right are actually trays. When gatherings happen, they can be removed, filled with food and whisked to the poolside dining table.
The living room and kitchen both have ipe wood flooring, which was also used as the deck material. “With the pool so close by, wet feet inside are going to happen,” says Disston.
Pendant light: YLighting, cabinets: custom
The living room and kitchen both have ipe wood flooring, which was also used as the deck material. “With the pool so close by, wet feet inside are going to happen,” says Disston.
Pendant light: YLighting, cabinets: custom
The combined dining room and family room lives next to the kitchen. It opens on two sides, offering access to the pool, patio and lawn (behind the console table).
Hanging chair: Unica Home; dining table, bench: Fishers Home Furnishings; light fixture: Plug Lighting; dining chairs: Design Within Reach; rug, pillows: Custom Cool
Hanging chair: Unica Home; dining table, bench: Fishers Home Furnishings; light fixture: Plug Lighting; dining chairs: Design Within Reach; rug, pillows: Custom Cool
The mantel is a notable homage to the British artist Rachel Whiteread, known for making casts of domestic objects and even entire houses. (For her work “House,” she cast the entire interior of a London Victorian home and installed it on the site where it had been torn down.) Here Disston made a mold of an antique mantel and used the negative space to form the surround of this modern fireplace. “It reads almost as a fossil,” he says.
The library is meant to be a place of retreat. “I wanted it to feel as comfortable as a favorite bathrobe,” says the architect. Warm wood beams, shelves, a cozy sofa and slipcovered armchairs make this a good spot for enjoying a book or a movie.
Rug: Custom Cool; light fixture: Ruby Beets; downlights: Urban Electric
Rug: Custom Cool; light fixture: Ruby Beets; downlights: Urban Electric
Being cozy was also on Disston’s mind when he designed the bed in the master bedroom with storage drawers underneath. “We used the drawers to store quilts and blankets,” he says. “When it gets cool, it’s good to have them close at hand.”
The architect describes the experience of being his own client as a bit like “being a surgeon who operates on himself.” But with summer on the way and the pool at hand, it seems like it was well worth the effort.
Pillows: Fishers Home Furnishings; rug: Custom Cool; ceiling fan: Big Ass Fans
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More: My Houzz: Lighthearted Charm Boosts a 1920s Bungalow
The architect describes the experience of being his own client as a bit like “being a surgeon who operates on himself.” But with summer on the way and the pool at hand, it seems like it was well worth the effort.
Pillows: Fishers Home Furnishings; rug: Custom Cool; ceiling fan: Big Ass Fans
Browse more homes by style:
Small Homes | Colorful Homes | Eclectic Homes | Modern Homes | Contemporary Homes | Midcentury Homes | Ranch Homes | Traditional Homes | Barn Homes | Townhouses | Apartments | Lofts | Vacation Homes
More: My Houzz: Lighthearted Charm Boosts a 1920s Bungalow
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Diana Bier Interiors LLC, i lived in CA for a few years & got to see a lot of the U.S. but never got to NYC or up the coast from there. It's a planned trip as I'm fascinated with that area. Guess i just thought they were all the old traditional type like we see on TV in shows like Revenge & This Old House. Yes it is a beautiful house, just not what i expected up there. It might surprise you a lot of people in Australia are now building new homes here based on that old world New England style & who can blame them, it's gorgeous! When i lived in San Diego i had a gorgeous Spanish revival ranch house with a stunning panoramic view. It's now a few houses later but that is still my favourite house I've owned! :- )
Not your usual idea of a Hamptons house? But all the better for that. Great architecture!
What a stunning Hampton's home. I especially love the rrenovated pool out there too.